Former CharlotteFive writer searches for her mom for over 24 hours in wake of Hurricane Ian
Editor’s note: Carole McDanel was found on Thursday afternoon, just as we published this story. It has been updated.
Former Charlottean and CharlotteFive writer Beth Booker, who now lives in Naples, Florida, asked her mom Carole McDanel to join her at her home earlier this week, with the threat of Hurricane Ian approaching. But Carole said no — she felt safer sheltering at her Fort Myers, Florida, house, where she had impact windows with shutters.
“We prepared her home with shutters and supplies, after all our house has survived multiple major hurricanes including Charley and Irma,” Beth told CharlotteFive on Thursday afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, Beth and her mom were in constant communication. But on Wednesday afternoon, Carole sent her photos of the water level — it had reached the top of the first story and was threatening the second story. “I’m not scared. This is is actually kind of exciting. And as for the stuff in my garage? It’s just stuff. You can replace stuff, you can’t replace people,” Carole said to Beth just before 2 p.m.
“I promise to never do this to you again because I know you’re worried,” she added.
At 3 p.m., Carole and Beth lost communication.
More than a day later, Beth, age 32, had not heard from her mom, age 78.
Asking for help in the age of social media live updates
Beth reacted by doing what she does best: Reaching out to the online community. By day, Beth is a publicist, the CEO of two firms: Gracie PR and Penny Lane PR. In fact, before Hurricane Ian’s arrival, she tweeted this advice: “Tips for Social Media Managers on how to manage their accounts during a hurricane: Don’t worry about them. Worry about preparing your home and taking care of yourself and your safety.”
She would end up taking her own advice a day later, in the form of reaching out for help from anyone who could get to the Fort Myers Beach area. “I’ve had so much support from this Twitter community to locate rescue resources and garner positive support and prayers,” she said.
A hashtag was started: #GetCaroleHome. Then the news spread nationally, with Today publishing an article about Beth’s search for her mom.
‘It’s just me and her’
Carole is actually Beth’s paternal grandmother, and she adopted Beth when she was 5 years old after her son, Beth’s dad, passed away at age 33. Beth’s adopted father, Carole’s husband and partner of 50 years passed away in 2016 from cancer.
“It’s just me and her. I have felt the guttural pain of losing a parent three times now and I cannot and will not accept that for her. It’s me and her against the world, and I will continue to do every single thing in my power to find her,” she told CharlotteFive.
The rescue
Beth reached out to volunteer rescue organizations, Lee County Emergency Services, FEMA and 911. A family friend who owns a company called Boat Butler took a boat out to search for her, as well.
Just after 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, Beth stated that Carole had been found. “She’s ok,” Beth said tearfully in a video she posted on Twitter. “They got her, they found her, and they are bringing her to me.”
Thursday evening, Beth and Carole were reunited. The Washington Post published a story about them, calling them ‘the Gilmore Girls with a twist’. Fox News featured the pair on Friday afternoon on its Outnumbered talk show.
Her mom now safe, Beth immediately turned her publicist efforts into helping the many others affected by Hurricane Ian’s wrath. On Friday, she published a thread of ongoing relief efforts to help other victims of the storm. She was also making plans to get to Fort Myers as soon volunteers were allowed in the area. “Hopefully, we can make it back down to the island tomorrow to get started. You had our back, now we want to have yours,” she wrote.
